Configurable size nail form apparatus

ABSTRACT

A configurable size nail form apparatus for attaching to the finger of a wearer that is to receive the application of a sculpted artificial nail. The configurable size nail form apparatus comprises an attachment apparatus, defined as an opposing pair of deformable tabs, each connected to a discrete attachment arm, with the two attachment arms connected by a crossbar to form a unitary body, and a selected nail form attachment. The configurable size nail form apparatus is operative to enable various sized nail form attachments to be connected to the attachment apparatus, with the attachment apparatus then to be secured on the finger of a wearer who is to receive a sculpted artificial nail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a manicuring implement and, moreparticularly, to a reusable nail form apparatus having detachable nailforms that enable customization of form size and angle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use and design of conventional reusable nail forms (as opposed todisposable nail forms) for the preparation and attachment of artificialnails is well known. A problem which still exists, however, is thatconventional reusable nail forms are typically provided in a single,fixed size that makes it difficult for a nail technician's ability touse them on fingers of varying sizes, and to use them to build varyingsizes and shapes of artificial nails. Thus, there remains a need for aconfigurable size nail form apparatus to which varying sized nail formscould be selectively attached. It would be helpful if such aconfigurable size nail form apparatus included opposing deformable tabsfor securely holding the apparatus on any size finger. It would beadditionally desirable for such a configurable size nail form apparatusto allow the nail form to be oriented over a nail in any one of aplurality of different angular configurations.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a configurablesize nail form apparatus adapted to allow any one of different sized andshaped nail forms to be placed on a wearer. The primary components inApplicant's configurable size nail form apparatus are a deformable tabs,attachment arms, and a nail form attachment. When in operation, theconfigurable size nail form apparatus improves the ability of a nailtechnician to sculpt artificial nails for customers having varying sizedhands and tastes. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by priorart structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A configurable size nail form apparatus for attaching to the finger of awearer that is to receive the application of a sculpted artificial nail.The configurable size nail form apparatus comprises an attachmentapparatus, defined as an opposing pair of deformable tabs, eachconnected to a discrete attachment arm, with the two attachment armsconnected by a crossbar to form a unitary body, and a selected nail formattachment. The configurable size nail form apparatus is operative toenable various sized nail form attachments to be connected to theattachment apparatus, with the attachment apparatus then to be securedon the finger of a wearer who is to receive a sculpted artificial nail.

It is an object of this invention to provide a configurable size nailform apparatus to which varying sized nail forms could be selectivelyattached.

It is another object of this invention to provide a configurable sizenail form apparatus that includes opposing deformable tabs for securelyholding the apparatus on any size finger.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a configurablesize nail form apparatus that allows the nail form to be oriented over anail in any one of a plurality of different angular configurations.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a configurable size nail formapparatus built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a configurable size nail form apparatusbuilt in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a front elevational view of nail form attachments of varioussizes of a configurable size nail form apparatus built in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a top plan view of nail form attachments of various sizes ofa configurable size nail form apparatus built in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 4A is a front elevational view of nail form attachments of varioussizes of a configurable size nail form apparatus built in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a top plan view of nail form attachments of various sizes ofa configurable size nail form apparatus built in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of nail form attachments of various sizes of aconfigurable size nail form apparatus built in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of nail form attachments of various sizes of aconfigurable size nail form apparatus built in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, aconfigurable size nail form apparatus 10 is shown as an attachmentapparatus and a nail form attachment 11. The attachment apparatus isdefined as an opposing pair of deformable tabs 12, each connected to adiscrete attachment arm 13, with the two attachment arms 13 connected bya crossbar 14 to form a unitary body. The attachment arms 13 extend fromthe crossbar 14, first orthogonally, before beginning to narrow relativeto one another as they get closer to where they attach to their specificdeformable tab 12. In the area right before where the deformable tabs 12and attachment arms 13 connect is a deformable section 15 that allowsthe deformable tabs 12 to moved apart while manual pressure in a partingdirection 16 is supplied while also biasing the deformable tabs 12 toreturn to their resting position, as shown in the Figures, when suchmanual pressure is removed.

It is contemplated that manual pressure in a parting direction 16 wouldtypically be supplied by the placement of a finger in between thedeformable tabs 12, with the biased deformable tabs 12 acting to holdthe attachment apparatus in place on the finger, resisting anyinadvertent movement therefrom. In this regard, the deformable tabs 12enable the attachment apparatus to be removably placed on the finger ofa wearer and remain in place even if placed at an angle on the finger.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, the configurable size nail form apparatus 10is operative to enable various sized nail form attachments 11 to beconnected to the attachment apparatus, with the attachment apparatusthen to be secured on the finger of a wearer who is to receive asculpted artificial nail. Any one of the nail form attachments 11 builtin accordance with the present invention can be removably attached tothe attachment apparatus on top of the attachment arms 13 and thecrossbar 14 through conventional removable attachment procedures. It iscontemplated that is one embodiment, the nail form attachment 11 isattached on top of the attachment arms 13 and the crossbar 14 throughthe application of a low tack pressure sensitive adhesive 17 to thebottom of the nail form attachment 11 and the placement of the bottom ofthat the nail form attachment 11 on top of the attachment arms 13 andthe crossbar 14. In other embodiments, a hook and loop fastener materialmay be used on the attachment arms 13 and the crossbar 14 and bottom ofthe nail form attachment 11, the nail form attachment may include one ormore attachment ridges on its bottom side edge that hooks onto theattachment arms 13 and the crossbar 14, or any combination of attachmentmethods may be employed.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

1. A configurable size nail form apparatus for removably attaching to afinger of a wearer and holding a nail form in place adjacent to a nailof the wearer, comprising: an attachment apparatus, defined as anopposing pair of deformable tabs, each connected to a proximal end of adiscrete attachment arm, with a crossbar connected to a distal end ofeach attachment arm, wherein the attachment arms and crossbar having acontinuous top surface defined as an attachment section; said deformabletabs adapted to receive the finger of the wearer so as to hold theattachment apparatus in place on the finger, thereby resisting anyinadvertent movement therefrom; and a nail form attachment removablyattachable to the attachment section.
 2. The configurable size nail formapparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment arms extend from thecrossbar orthogonally before beginning to narrow relative to one anotherprior to connecting to their respective deformable tab.
 3. Theconfigurable size nail form apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachmentarms include a deformable section adjacent to the proximal end thatallows the deformable tabs to moved apart while manual pressure in aparting direction is supplied while also biasing the deformable tabs toreturn to a resting position area in the absence of manual pressure in aparting direction.
 4. The configurable size nail form apparatus of claim1, additionally comprising a low tack pressure sensitive adhesiveintegral with the nail form attachment, thereby enabling the removableattachment of the nail form attachment to the attachment section.